Heater for golf balls



Feb. 10, 1942. w, D, HAMPTON 2,272,340

HEATER FOR GOLF BALLS Filed Feb. 6, 1941 INVENTOR ATTORNEY-S Patented Feb. 10, 1942 barren stares Persist osricie HEATER FOR GOLF BALLS Walter Darden Hampton, Greensboro, N. 0.

Application February 6, 1941, Serial No. 377,615

4 Claims.

This invention relates to heaters for golf balls, and more especially it relates to portable heaters that golfers may carry in caddy bags or on the person for warming golf balls during play in cold weather.

It is well known to golfers that the temperature of the golf ball is an important factor influencing the distance that it may be driven, and that the same ball will have a flight of to yards greater in summer temperatures than at a temperature of for example. Accordingly it is common practice for professional golfers, and some others, to immerse their golf balls in a bowl of hot water in the locker room prior to play on cold days, so as to increase the distance of the drive.

The chief objects of this invention are to provide a portable golf ball heating device; to provide a device of the character mentioned that is self-heating; to provide a device into which golf balls readily are inserted; to provide for uniform distribution of heat in the device; and to provide a device by which a sufficient number of balls will be heated to supply balls for play which are warm and substantially of the same temperature. Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

In the specification and drawing is disclosed one form of the invention, it being understood that this form and the details shown and described are not essential and may be varied in a number of different ways. While the invention is shown as embodied in a separate and portable container, the invention may be made as a permanent part of the golf bag. It will also be understood that while the particular design shown is advantageous because it permits a heated ball to be ejected when a cold ball is inserted, this is not essential.

In the accompanying drawing which shows one form of the invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a ball heater embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the device.

The device in the form shown comprises a canister or case that may be composed of leather, although other materials may be employed. Said case comprises a body portion H), a bottom closure ll provided with a flange I 2 that may be permanently secured to the body l0, and reprovided with straps l4 and snap fasteners l5 by which it may be retained in place upon the body l0.

Mounted interiorly of the case is an interior receptacle or chamber, here shown as a guideway or passage l8, preferably constructed of woven wire, and being of open mesh so as to transmit the heat to the articles freely. Wholly or partially surrounding the guideway i8 is a heating element l 9 of the chemical type, such as are now on the market. This usually consists of a receptacle or bag of heavy duck or canvas in which is contained a mixture of several ingredients that are chemically inert in the dry state, but which react chemically and generate heat in the presence of water, the reaction continuing for 8 to 10 hours. The heating unit may be made in crescent shape in transverse section, as shown, so as better to embrace the passage I8 when the passage is located at the side of the container, and is readily removablefrom the case.

A plurality of golf balls 22, herein shown as four in number, are receivable in the container, within the passage or guideway 3. In order to have available a well heated ball, the golf balls are placed in the heater from the bottom, and to this end the bottom closure H is cross-slit at 23, 23. The slits 23 produce flaps 24 in the bottom closure II, which flaps may be bent inwardly when a golf ball is placed in the heater simply by forcing it through the slit portion of the bottom closure. The material of the bottom closure H is sufficiently stifi that the flaps will not open under the weight of the golf balls in the heater.

To avoid removing the cover when a heated ball is desired, the cover is provided with an opening 26 in alignment with the passage l8 and this opening is closed by a slide 38, which, in the form shown is received between upper and lower plies 21 of the cover. The upper ply is cut at 29 to receive the slide 38, and the latter is "formed with lugs 3| that prevent its withdrawal. These details of the closure are optional, however, and any form of closure may be provided in the cover.

As shown, the portable container holds a number of balls which number does not require the device to be too large for convenient handling and is sufficient to insure that a well heated ball will always be available.

The invention provides a readily portable golfers accessory that will provide the players movable lid or top closure I3, the latter being with warm balls throughout an entire day of -play. The device heats the golf balls to uniform temperature, and achieves the other advantages set forth in the foregoing statement of objects.

The details of construction of the device may be varied within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for the uses and purposes set forth comprising a portable receptacle, a passage in the receptacle constructed and adapted to hold a plurality of golf balls, a heat generating unit embracing the passage, and a closure at one end of the passage to permit the removal of a heated ball from the passage and a port at the other end of the passage to permit the insertion of a fresh ball.

2. A device for the uses and purposes set forth comprising a portable receptacle, a secondary container therein constructed and adapted to receive a plurality of golf balls, the secondary container being spaced from the interior of the receptacle to house a chemically active selfheating element which at least partially surrounds the secondary container, and a closure for the secondary container which is operative from the exterior of the receptacle.

3. A heater for golf balls comprising a portable container, a passage in the container slightly greater in cross-section than the diameter of a golf ball and of sufficient height to hold a plurality of golf balls, a chemically active heating element located in the container and coextensive with the passage, a closure for the container having an opening in register with the passage, and a secondary closure thereon over said opening.

4. A heater for golf balls comprising a portable container, said container being divided interiorly to provide two chambers, a chemically active heater in one chamber and partially surrounding the second chamber, a removable cover for the container having an opening therein of sufilcient size to permit the passage of a golf ball, said opening registering with the second chamber, and a movable closure for said opening.

WALTER DARDEN HAMPTON. 

